Protective hull washer

ABSTRACT

A molding or rub rail for boat hulls which is adapted to wash the hull, comprising a resilient conduit fastened circumferentially of the hull at the outer extremities thereof and having a plurality of inwardly downwardly directed orifices throughout its length and an inlet connection.

United States Patent William Wigner Miami Beach, Fla. 864,620

Oct. 8, I969 Sept. 7, 1971 Wltsco, lnc. Hialeah, Fla.

Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee PROTECTIVE HULL WASHER 2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 239/282, 1 14/222, 239/567, 248/73, 248/75 Int. CL B0511 15/06 Field of Search 239/547,

289, 548, 550, 556, 557, 282, 283, 567; 114/219, 220, 222; 134/123; 138/DIG. l1, 18; 248/73, 75, 79, 223

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,065,724 1 1/1962 Tritt 114/219 X 3,251,069 5/1966 Clark 248/75 X FORElGN PATENTS 573,706 4/1959 1 Canada 134/123 1,576,396 8/1969 France 134/123 1,079,978 4/1960 Germany 134/123 249,642 4/1926 Great Britain 134/123 Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr. Attorney-Stoll and Stoll ABSTRACT: A molding or rub rail'for boat hulls which is adapted to wash the hull, comprising a resilient conduit fastened circumferentially of the hull at the outer extremities thereof and having a plurality of inwardly downwardly directed orifices throughout its length and an inlet connection.

PATENTEUSEP "HQ?! 3303; 51 (j INVIL'NTUR.

WILLIAM WA6NEW PROTECTIVE IIlUlLL WASHER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1 Field of the Invention Protective bumper device for boats.

2. Description of the Prior Art I Hull bumpers, rub rails, pillow cushions or the like have been used since antiquity to protect boats in contact with adjacent members such as pilings, docks, other boats and the like. Prior hereto, however, no known bumper or rub rail device has been adapted for use in washing the hull.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention adapts a rub rail into a highly useful adjunct for washing boat hulls.

The present invention also provides a highly protective rub rail which is at once uncommonly useful and handsome.

Basically, and not by way of limitation, the present invention provides a resilient conduit fastened circumferentially of the boat at its outermost extremities. In conventional designs in which the hull flares upwardly and outwardly, the outermost extremity is the uppermost portion of the hull. The conduit may be fastened by conventional means or by a resilient snap-on overlay. A conduit is provided with downwardly inwardly directed orifices throughout its length and with a con venient hose connection.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a top view of the protective hull washer of the present invention shown mounted on a small boat and showing a hose connected thereto.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken across line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary partial cross-sectional view of the inlet portion of the protective hull washer of the present invention showing the orifices.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF Til-IE INVENTION Referring to the drawing, the protective hull washer III of the present invention comprises a resilient conduit I2 which extends circumferentially of the hull M of the boat at the outermost extremities thereof which in conventional designs is the upper portion of the hull. As used herein, hull includes the transom.

Resilient conduit 12 is provided with a plurality of orifices 16 which are directed toward the hull downwardly and inwardly. While any cross-sectional configuration of resilient conduit 12 may be utilized, the preferred cross-sectional configuration would include a relatively planar inner member Zil adapted for close fitting against hull 114, an arcuate outer member 22 adapted to ward off the bumps and grinds of hull to third party (dock, pilings, etc.) clashes and a second relatively planar member directed inwardly and downwardly of the hull and which includes orifices to.

At least one inlet connection 30 may be placed in connection with resilient conduit I2 for introduction of water therein. Each such inlet connection 30 may comprise a threaded male fitting 32 for simplified connection with standard female couplings M on water hoses.

Operation of the protective hull washer MB is exceedingly simple. Water pumped into resilient conduit I2 is forced under pressure through orifices I6 and against hull M thereby providing simplified means for washing the hull. Water pressure should be adequate to fill resilient conduit I2 with water in its entirety. If water pressure is insufzficient for this purpose, additional inlet couplings 30 may be utilized at spaced intervals.

Resilient conduit 12 may be fastened to hull M in any conventional manner. For appearance and ease of replacement a snap;on covering d0 may be utilized. Sna -on covering 40 is provided with a eyed slot 42 longitudina of the boat and an arcuate flange 44 adapted to enclose resilient conduit 112. A bracket 46 is conventionally fastened to hull M. Snap-on covering 40, which is also of resilient material, is snapped around bracket 46 which is mated to keyed slot 41 2 thereby securing snap-on covering $0 and resilient conduit 12 enclosed thereby to the boat.

While the foregoing is illustrative of preferred embodiments of the present invention, other embodiments and modifications may be had within the teachings hereof and the scope of the claims. For example, either conduit 112 or covering 40, or both, may be aluminum extrusions which would, of course, reduce their characteristics but which would introduce other desirable properties such as structural integrity and durability. An aluminum cover Ml need not necessarily be snapped on to a bracket but may be secured by any conventional means.

I claim:

II. A protective hull washer in accordance with the 4 teachings hereof, comprising:

a. a conduit, said conduit extending circumferentially of the boat; b. securing means, said securing means securing said conduit to a boat and comprising: i. a bracket fastened to the boat; and ii. a covering adapted to the shape of said bracket to be removably secured thereto and having a flange adapted to enclose said conduit against the boat; c. at least one water inlet for introducing water under pressure to said conduit; and d. water outlet means, said water outlet means comprising a plurality of orifices in said conduit throughout its length. 2. A protective hull washer in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

a. said conduit is provided with a first substantially planar wall adapted for close contact with the boat; and b. said conduit is further provided with a second substantially planar wall which includes said water outlet means. 

1. A protective hull washer in accordance with the teachings hereof, comprising: a. a conduit, said conduit extending circumferentially of the boat; b. securing means, said securing means securing said conduit to a boat and comprising: i. a bracket fastened to the boat; and ii. a covering adapted to the shape of said bracket to be removably secured thereto and having a flange adapted to enclose said conduit against the boat; c. at least one water inlet for introducing water under pressure to said conduit; and d. water outlet means, said water outlet means comprising a plurality of orifices in said conduit throughout its length.
 2. A protective hull washer in accordance with claim 1, wherein: a. said conduit is provided with a first substantially planar wall adapted for close contact with the boat; and b. said conduit is further provided with a second substantially planar wall which includes said water outlet means. 